kacollier

Each year we take an international trip but this year is our big 25th. We are trying to find a trip with the "wow" factor but have done some of our first choices in the past (South African safari, trekking in Nepal, inn-to-inn hiking Manchu Pichu, biking in Turkey & China, Angor Wat/Laos, etc.). Right now we are considering Myanmar (bike trip), Bhutan, Namibia for sand dunes/skeleton coast, Croatia for beauty & activities, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea....possibly Israel/Jordon but worried about current state of affairs. Any help in telling us what you loved in any of these countries and what made it unique....just remember we are "active" travelers and will be limiting our time to 2 weeks. This may sound short to some, but we've visited most countries in less than this time.

Kathie

We loved both of our trips to Burma. Burma is a country changing very rapidly. It makes sense to go as soon as you can. The other places you list will be very much the same in a couple of years, Burma will not. If you click on my name, you can find both of my Burma trip reports, 2009 and 2011. The info on money from 2009 is now out of date, and the info from 2011 about money will likely soon be out of date.

Photos at www.marlandc.com

wintersp

There is a little bit of information re a bike trip in Burma on Lonely Plant TT forums. It isn't a common thing to do but I believe from LP that it has been done.

wintersp

FYI http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2254402
or just do a search of Myanmar then Bike.

kacollier

Hi...we already have a number of companies that we can do bike trips in Myanmar (Backroads, etc). So the logistics of the trip is not a question. Our main concern is whether the sites, people, experiences, culture will be much different than we've already experienced in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc. Please let me know what you think makes Myanmar special from the others or more unique.

Kathie

Yes, lots of companies are now doing bike trips to Burma.

Burma has basically been cut off from the rest of the world for 60 years.

While Burma, like Thailand and Laos has strong Theravada Buddhism, the devotion of the people to Buddhism is qualitatively different. There is also more variety in Burma. The various tribal groups are not as integrated into the main culture, so you are able to see peoples living as they have traditionally. The area around Inle Lake is like this. There is unique Buddhist iconography in this area, wherein all of the Buddha images in the "Calling the Earth to Witness" position has a small white elephant beneath the Buddha's hand. I've seen this nowhere else in SE ASia, and saw it no where else in Burma.

There is still a window (probably brief) during which you can experience Burma as it has been for many decades. There are still areas of the country that are off-limits to foreigners, but enough really interesting areas are open for you to get a real flavor for the country. Be aware that if you go with a tour group, you will need to break away from the group in order to get a more genuine experience.

Elizabeth_S

We spent 3 weeks driving around Namibia 2 years ago and loved it - blog link here

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/africa/g-namibia/